August 18, 2009

The former Talladega native and Winterboro High standout signed a free agent contract with the Chicago White Sox on Thursday evening. … Millender, 22, said he’ll return to school at the University of North Alabama to finish up his accounting degree, then will report to spring training in March. He played in the outfield for the Lions in 2008 and 2009. Millender, who checks in at 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, tried out first for the Kansas City Royals, then got a look from the White Sox scouts on July 27. … Millender hit .356 for the Lions in 2009 and was a perfect 45-for-45 on stolen base attempts. He led UNA with 60 runs scored and he drove in another 24 runs. He was selected second-team all-region on both squads. Millender was previously selected All-Gulf South Conference as well. He helped lead the Lions to a 32-20 record in 2009. He hit .324 with five homers and 33 runs batted in. He also stole 15 bases.

Millender’s dream growing up was to be a professional baseball player, and he will get his opportunity this spring playing for a single A ball club in Kannapolis, North Carolina.

… Millender is also known to have world-class speed and quickness, and an instinct to make plays. “What honestly separates him from the rest is his speed, man he’s fast,” said long time friend and former UNA pitcher Ryan Miller. Although some would consider his dream complete, Millender is not settling for just the single A, there are bigger goals in front of him that he hopes to achieve one day. “I plan on spending maybe two months or so playing single A ball, then I want to make it up to double A, and hopefully in a year and a half or two years be playing for the White Sox in Chicago.”